More Than 100 People w/o Power Overnight Friday Night West of Effingham

A downed power line caused a night without electricity Friday night for more than 100 Ameren customers west of Effingham.

The line went down in the Little Wabash River, causing the outage and affecting those who live in the June Lake area and the territory around Effingham Country Club.

Repair work was hampered by the swift current. Shumway Fire Protection District Battalion Chief Johnathan Paholke said the current was averaging 5-6 knots and the maximum current for repairs to be made safely is 3 knots. The water receded more quickly than expected, allowing crews to begin repairs about 5:30am. Service was restored by 8:30am Saturday.